Kroger Bagger Crowned Georgia’s Best

Kevin Davis, a 21-year-old who works at Kroger No. 619 in Griffin, has taken home Georgia’s Best Bagger title. Davis beat out three other grocery baggers during two rounds of competition Thursday evening during the 2014 Georgia Food Industry Association (GFIA) Convention’s opening night party at Amelia Island Plantation in Amelia Island, Fla. It was a close competition, with only a 10th of a point separating Davis from runner-up Edlyn Seraphin of Publix. Other competitors included Jason Farmer of Quality Foods and Katie Johnson of Fresh n’ Frugal, a J&J Foods banner.

“I’m so excited,” Davis told The Shelby Report following his win. “I practiced and practiced.”

Competitors are judged on a number of criteria, including speed of bagging and weight distribution among the bags.

In addition to a cash prize, Davis will go on to compete nationally in Las Vegas in February.

Davis said he’s never been to Las Vegas and is thrilled about the opportunity to compete. And so is his grandmother, Walline Driver, who was on hand Thursday in Amelia Island cheering on her grandson

“I’m so proud of him,” Driver told The Shelby Report. “He’s worked hard for this.”

Davis has been with Kroger for three years and plans to continue working there until he graduates from Gordon State College in Barnesville, where he is majoring in social work.

Find more photos from the competition and the opening night festivities here.

Georgia’s Best Bagger Kevin Davis of Kroger in Griffin is surrounded by family, friends and associates, including Ruben Fernandez, VP of Kroger’s Atlanta division (back row right) following his win Thursday.